Device and method for inserting a security and/or identification element between two layers of a marking strip for items of baggage

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a device and a method for inserting a security and/or identification element ( 3 ) between two layers of a marking strip ( 2 ) for items of baggage, the two layers being an overlayer ( 22 ) and a substrate ( 23 ) joined together at least in sub-sections by way of an adhesive layer which adheres to the overlayer ( 22 ) when the substrate ( 23 ) is delaminated.  
     The object underlying the invention is to manufacture marking strips with integrated security/identification elements ( 3 ) at low cost.  
     As regards the method, this object is accomplished in that the marking strips ( 2 ) are available in web form and are guided in running direction past a vacuum source ( 5 ), that the vacuum source ( 5 ) is switched on as soon as the severing cut ( 26 ) of a marking strip ( 2 ) enters the range of action of the vacuum source ( 5 ), whereby the substrate ( 23 ) is lifted from the overlayer ( 22 ) of a marking strip ( 2 ) so that a security/identification element ( 3 ) is dispensed onto the overlayer ( 22 ) or the substrate ( 23 ), and that the running direction of the marking strip ( 2 ) is reversed as soon as the leading section of the security/identification element ( 3 ) adheres to the overlayer ( 22 ) or the substrate ( 23 ), whereby the overlayer ( 22 ) and the substrate ( 23 ) of a marking strip ( 2 ) are brought together again and the security/identification element ( 2 ) is inserted between the two layers ( 22, 23 ).

[0001] This invention relates to a device and a method for inserting asecurity and/or identification element between two layers of a markingstrip for items of baggage, the two layers being an overlayer and asubstrate joined together at least in sub-sections by way of an adhesivelayer, said adhesive layer adhering to the overlayer when the substrateis delaminated. In implementing the method of the present invention, aplurality of marking strips in successive arrangement are processed asweb material in a device of the present invention. The substrate of theweb of the marking strips is interrupted at regular intervals.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a marking stripmanufactured in accordance with the method of the invention.

[0003] Marking strips are used preferably for the identification ofbaggage items at airports. Essential information such as the passenger'sname, destination, bar codes, etc. is printed on the overlayer of theoblong marking strip. The substrate is then removed at least in certainsections. The marking strip is looped around the handle of the baggageand in those sections where the adhesive layer lies exposed is adheredto opposite sections of the marking strip.

[0004] A preferred embodiment of such a marking strip is described in EP0 568 843 B1. This marking strip has a main part and an adjacentseparable control section which follows in longitudinal direction, withthe control section and an adjacent section of the main part having onthe rear side an adhesive coating covered by a silicone-coated surfacestrip. The surface strip has in the area of the main part a stronglyadhering section on its side facing the main part. To enable the surfacestrip to be affixed to the marking strip in one operation when joiningtogether the two parts, the silicone coating is neutralized in thestrongly adhering section or is covered by an adhesive layer. Themarking strip described in this European patent specification is ideallysuited for being manufactured with the method of the present invention,because the surface strip is interrupted at regular intervals. In theareas of the ends of the surface strip the possibility exists toposition an identification element between the two strips using themethod of the present invention.

[0005] However, the art also knows of other marking strips comprised ofat least one continuous substrate and at least one continuous overlayer.All these marking strips can be provided with identification elementsaccording to the method of the present invention if a severing cut ispresent in at least one of the aforementioned layers, said cut extendingorthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the marking strip andhence interrupting the respective layer, so that it is again possible inthe area of the severing cut to position a marking element between theinterrupted and a continues layer.

[0006] In this connection it is irrelevant whether the severing cutalready exists in a layer of the marking strip or whether provision ismade for a further device at a suitable site of the device of thepresent invention to provide the severing cuts in the respective layer.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to propose an economicalmarking strip with integrated security/identification element as well asa suitable method and a suitable device for the manufacture of such amarking strip.

[0008] As regards the device, this object is accomplished by providing asupply reel with marking strips in web form, by providing a roll pairconsisting of a vacuum roll and a platen roll, with the marking stripsbeing guided through the roll gap between the vacuum roll and the platenroll, by providing a dispensing device for security and/oridentification elements, by providing a control device which controlsthe device so that one security/identification element is placed betweenthe overlayer and the substrate of the marking strip, and by providing atake-up reel onto which the marking strips with the insertedsecurity/identification elements are subsequently wound.

[0009] According to an advantageous further aspect of the device of thepresent invention, one servo motor each is operatively associated withthe supply reel, the vacuum roll and the take-up reel. As a result ofthis arrangement it is possible to adapt the device without difficultyto any dimensions of the marking strips and/or security/identificationelements. Hence the device can be put to universal use.

[0010] According to a low-cost embodiment of the device of the presentinvention, the dispensing device is comprised of a supply reel, adispensing edge and a take-up reel. In this embodiment, too, respectiveservo motors are operatively associated with the supply reel and thetake-up reel in order to increase the flexibility of the device.

[0011] An advantageous embodiment of the device of the present inventionprovides for the dispensing edge to be positioned in the vicinity of theroll gap between the vacuum roll and the platen roll. Further, afavorable aspect of the device of the present invention proposespositioning a first sensor between the platen roll and the take-up reel,said sensor supplying the control device with information about therespective position of a marking strip. Provision is also made for asecond sensor which supplies the control device with information aboutthe position of a security/identification element. Thesecurity/identification element is preferably an integrated circuithaving assigned to it a resonant circuit for the purpose of exchangingdata with an interrogating unit. By inserting such asecurity/identification element the interrogating unit always has accessto essential information about the baggage item to which thesecurity/identification element is attached. Furthermore, it is nolonger necessary, as with the reading of bar codes, for example, for thesource of information to be passed in the direct vicinity of theinterrogating unit.

[0012] To make it easy for the control device to recognize the severingcut at which the substrate is lifted from the overlayer in order toinsert the security/identification element, a marker designed to bereadily detected by the sensor is applied to the marking strip. Thismarker is, for example, a wide transverse line which is readilydetectable by an optical contrast sensor. It will be appreciated thatany other markers may be used in conjunction with the invention,provided they are clearly identifiable by the sensor used. As a rule,suitable markers are anyway applied for printing commercially availablemarking strips so that no additional markers are necessary.

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the device of the present inventionprovides for the sensor to be positioned between the roll gap and thetake-up reel, the sensor's relative distance to the roll gap being madeto equal the relative distance of the marker to the severing cut in thesubstrate of a marking strip, and for the vacuum roll to be switched ononce the sensor detects a marker and relays a corresponding signal tothe control device. Hence in this preferred embodiment of the device ofthe present invention, the recording of the marker by the sensor isdirectly coupled to the activation of the vacuum roll.

[0014] The object of the invention with respect to the method isaccomplished by providing the marking strips in web form and guidingthem in running direction past a vacuum source; the vacuum source isswitched on as soon as a severing cut in one of the two layers of one ofthe marking strips enters the range of action of the vacuum source,whereby the substrate interrupted by the severing cut is lifted from theother layer of this particular marking strip: a security/identificationelement is dispensed onto the overlayer or substrate in thepredetermined section; the running direction of the marking strips isthen reversed, and the vacuum source is switched off at the latest whenthe overlayer and the substrate of a marking strip are brought togetheragain and the security/identification element is inserted between thetwo layers; finally, the marking strips are moved on again in theoriginal running direction.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the method of the presentinvention, the instants of time when the running direction of themarking strip is reversed and the vacuum source is switched on and offare fixed by way of a control device and servo motors. The advantage ofthis embodiment compared to a pure hardware solution is that the methodof the present invention and the device of the present invention can bemodified without great difficulty to enable the processing of markingstrips and security/identification elements of any size.

[0016] As previously mentioned, an advantageous further aspect of themethod of the present invention provides for determining the position ofthe marking strips and/or the position of the security/identificationelements by means of sensors.

[0017] According to a preferred aspect of the method of the presentinvention, the security/identification elements are affixed to asupporting web by means of an adhesive whose adhesion relative to thesecurity/identification elements is greater than relative to thesupporting web; the security/identification elements are lifted off thesupporting web at the dispensing edge of the dispensing device andapplied with their non-adhesive-coated side to the overlayer coated withadhesive. This ensures in simple manner that, after the substrate isjoined to the overlayer, the adhesive force in the area of an insertedsecurity/identification element is the same as outside this area.

[0018] The object of the invention with respect to the marking stripmanufactured in accordance with the method of the present invention forthe security and identification of baggage items is accomplished in thatthe marking strip is comprised of an overlayer and a substrate which arejoined together at least in sub-sections by way of an adhesive layer, inthat the adhesive layer adheres to the overlayer when the substrate isdelaminated, and in that a security/identification element is placed ina predetermined section between the overlayer and the substrate.

[0019] The present invention will be explained in more detail in thefollowing with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing,

[0020]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a marking strip constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a side view of an advantageous embodiment of the deviceof the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for operating the control device to executean advantageous embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a marking strip 2 of the presentinvention. The marking strip 2 is comprised of a substrate 23, asecurity/identification element 3 which is adhered to a predeterminedsection 25 of the marking strip 2, and an overlayer 22. A marker 24 isapplied to the outside of the substrate 23. In this particular case themarker is a dark stripe applied across the running direction of themarking elements in the device of the present invention. Furthermore,the substrate 23 has a severing cut 26, whose function will be describedin greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 2. It will be understood thatthis severing cut may also coincide with the marker 24 or the end of thestrip. Moreover, the possibility exists to provide the overlayer withthe severing cut and to leave the substrate continuous.

[0024] In the case of the illustrated configuration of the marking strip2 of the present invention, the security/identification element 3 iscomprised of a resonant circuit 27 connected electrically to anintegrated circuit 28. The marking strip 2 is designed long enough to belooped without difficulty around the handle of a piece of baggage and befixed in this position.

[0025]FIG. 2 shows a side view of an advantageous embodiment of thedevice 1 of the present invention. The marking strips 2 are available asweb material and wound on a supply reel 4. The web material with themarking strips 2 is guided through a roll gap 12 formed between a platenroll 6 and a vacuum roll 5 placed against the platen roll 6. The webmaterial with the marking strips 2 is wound onto the take-up reel 7after a security/identification element 3 has been inserted in thepredetermined section 25 of each marking strip 2.

[0026] The dispensing edge 10 of the dispensing device 8 for thesecurity/identification elements 3 is positioned in the direct vicinityof the roll gap 12. The security/identification elements 3 are arrangedon a supporting web 29. The supporting web 29 is wound off the supplyreel 11 and guided over the dispensing edge 10 to the take-up reel 9where it is rewound. At the dispensing edge 10 thesecurity/identification elements 3 are removed from the supporting web29 and dispensed onto the overlayer 22 of the marking strips 2 in such away that each security/identification element 3 is positioned in thepredetermined section 25.

[0027] A control device 13 is provided to ensure that thesecurity/identification elements 3 are applied correctly to thepredetermined sections 25 of the marking elements 2. The control device13 receives the essential information about the positions of the markingstrips 2 and the security/identification elements 3 from the sensors 20,21, controlling their running direction and/or running speed by way ofservo motors 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. The servo motors 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19 preferably have integrated phase-angle sensors and areoperatively associated with the rolls/reels 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11.

[0028] An alternative embodiment provides only for the vacuum roll 5 oronly for the platen roll 6 of the two rolls to be associated with aservo motor 15 or 16. In this case torque is transmitted to the otherroll from the roll actively driven by a servo motor using simplemechanical means, as meshing gears, or just by way of the frictionoccurring in the roll gap 12. The economic advantage of this embodimentis obvious in view of the cost savings realized by the absence of theservo motor 15 or 16 and the expenditure involved in the control of, andpower supply to, the motor.

[0029] In the embodiment of the device of the present invention shown inFIG. 2, the relative distance of the sensor 20 to the roll gap 12—asseen looking in the running direction of the marking strips 2—is equalto the relative distance of the marker 24 to the severing cut 26. At theinstant of time when the sensor 20 detects the marker 24, the severingcut 26 in the substrate 23 lies in the roll gap 12 between the vacuumroll 5 and the platen roll 6. The sensor 20 transmits the detectionsignal to the control device 13 via the connecting line. Thereupon thecontrol device 13 activates the vacuum roll. As a result of the vacuumprevailing on the surface of the vacuum roll 5, the substrate 23 islifted downstream from the severing cut 26—as seen looking in therunning direction—and fixedly held in place on the circumference of thevacuum roll 5. At the instant of time when the section predetermined forplacement of the identification element is reached, the control device13 activates the dispensing device 8 which then causes asecurity/identification element 3 to be applied to the adhesive-coatedside of the overlayer 22 at the predetermined point of the marking strip2. The position of the security/identification element 3 is monitored bya sensor 21 to enable this dispensing operation to be performedcorrectly. Once the dispensing operation begins, the control device 13changes the direction of rotation of the rolls/reels 4, 5, 6, 7, wherebythe running direction of the marking strips 2 changes and the substrate23 is re-laminated with the overlayer 22.

[0030] As soon as a security/identification element 3 is fullydispensed, the control device 13 stops the reels 9, 11 of the dispensingdevice 8. The vacuum roll 5 is deactivated at the latest when thereels/rolls 4, 5, 6, 7 are reversed again in the original runningdirection. This new change of running direction takes place—aspreviously mentioned—as soon as the substrate 23 and the overlayer 22 ofa marking strip 2 are laminated together and the security/identificationelement 3 is integrated in the required section 25 of the marking strip2. The process is repeated as soon as the sensor 20 detects the nextmarker 24.

[0031]FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the operation of the control device 13designed to implement an advantageous embodiment of the method of thepresent invention. The device used is that of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0032] For the control device 13 to be able to perform the methodcorrectly, it needs information about the dimensions of the markingstrips 2 and security/identification elements 3. The program is startedat point 30. As soon as the sensor 20 issues a signal to the controldevice 13 that it has detected a marker 24 (program point 31), thecontrol device 13 prompts the activation of the vacuum roll 5 underprogram point 32. Under program point 33 a checked is carried out to seewhether the section 25 of the marking element 2, in which thesecurity/identification element 3 is to be placed, has been reached.Once the section 25 is reached (point 34), the dispensing device 8 isactivated, resulting in the security/identification element 3 beingpositioned in the predetermined section 25.

[0033] The forward movement of the marking strip 2 is stopped as soon asthe leading (as seen looking in the running direction of the dispensingdevice 8) section of the security/identification element 3 has beendispensed onto the overlayer 22 (program point 35). Under point 35 thecontrol device 13 then prompts the rolls/reels 4, 5, 6, 7 to be reversedin the opposite running direction, with the result that thesecurity/identification element 3 can be placed fully onto theoverlayer. The dispensing device 8 is deactivated as soon as thesecurity/identification element 3 has been dispensed fully onto theoverlayer 22 (program points 36, 37). At program point 38 the rolls 4,5, 6, 7 are reversed again in the original direction and the vacuum roll5 is deactivated or its suction power reduced, with the result that thesubstrate 23 no longer clings to the vacuum roll 5 and is laminated withthe overlayer 22 in the roll gap at the latest.

[0034] The process is repeated in cycles as soon as the next marker 24enters the field of view of the sensor 20. (The first marker belongs tothe marking strip 2 in which a security/identification element 3 waspreviously integrated.)

[0035] List of References

[0036]1 device of the present invention

[0037]2 marking strip

[0038]3 security/identification element

[0039]4 supply reel (marking strips)

[0040]5 vacuum roll

[0041]6 platen roll

[0042]7 take-up reel (marking strips)

[0043]8 dispensing device

[0044]9 take-up reel (supporting web of security/identificationelements)

[0045]10 dispensing edge (security/identification elements)

[0046]11 supply reel (security/identification elements)

[0047]12 roll gap

[0048]13 control device

[0049]14 servo motor (supply reel)

[0050]15 servo motor

[0051]16 servo motor

[0052]17 servo motor

[0053]18 servo motor

[0054]19 servo motor

[0055]20 sensor

[0056]21 sensor

[0057]22 overlayer

[0058]23 substrate

[0059]24 marker

[0060]25 section

[0061]26 severing cut

[0062]27 resonant circuit

[0063]28 integrated circuit

[0064]29 supporting web (security/identification elements)

1. A device for inserting a security and/or identification elementbetween two layers of a marking strip for items of baggage, said twolayers being an overlayer and a substrate joined together at least insub-sections by way of an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer adheringto the overlayer when the substrate is delaminated, characterized inthat a supply reel (4) with marking strips (2) in web form is provided,that a roll pair (5, 6) consisting of a vacuum roll (5) and a platenroll (6) is provided, said marking strips (2) being guided through theroll gap (12) between the vacuum roll (5) and the platen roll (6), thata dispensing device (8) for security and/or identification elements (3)is provided, and that a control device (13) is provided which controlsthe device (1) so that one security/identification element (3) is placedbetween the overlayer (22) and the substrate (23) of the marking strip(2), and that a take-up reel (7) is provided onto which the markingstrips (2) with the inserted security/identification elements (3) aresubsequently wound.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterizedin that one servo motor (14, 17 as well as 15 or 16) each is operativelyassociated with the supply reel (4) and the take-up reel (7) as well asthe vacuum roll (5) or the platen roll (6), torque being transmitted tothe roll not directly driven by a servo motor from the roll driven by aservo motor using mechanical means, as, for example, gears.
 3. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one servo motor (14,15, 16 and 17) each is operatively associated with the supply reel (4),the take-up reel, the vacuum roll and the platen roll.
 4. The device asclaimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the dispensing device(8) is comprised of a supply reel (11), a dispensing edge (10) and atake-up reel (9).
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 4,characterized in that the dispensing edge (10) is positioned in thevicinity of the roll gap (12) between the vacuum roll (5) and the platenroll (6).
 6. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that aservo motor (18, 19) is operatively associated with the supply reel (11)and the take-up reel (9), respectively, of the dispensing device (8). 7.The device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a firstsensor (20) is positioned between the platen roll (6) and the take-upreel (7), said sensor supplying the control device (13) with informationabout the position of a marking strip (2).
 8. The device as claimed inclaim 6, characterized in that a second sensor (21) is provided, whichsupplies the control device (13) with information about the position ofa security/identification element (3).
 9. The device as claimed in claim7, characterized in that a marker (24) designed to be detected by thesensor (20) is applied to the marking strip (2).
 10. The device asclaimed in claim 9, characterized in that the sensor (20) is positionedbetween the roll gap (12) and the take-up reel (7), the sensor'srelative distance to the roll gap (12) being made to equal the relativedistance of the marker (24) to the severing cut (26) in the substrate(23) of a marking strip (2) behind which the security/identificationelement (3) is placed, and that the vacuum roll (5) is switched on oncethe sensor (20) detects a marker (24) and relays a corresponding signalto the control device (13).
 11. A method for inserting a security and/oridentification element between two layers of a marking strip for itemsof baggage, said two layers being an overlayer and a substrate joinedtogether at least in sub-sections by way of an adhesive layer, saidadhesive layer adhering to the overlayer when the substrate isdelaminated, characterized in that the marking strips (2) are availablein web form and are guided in running direction past a vacuum source(5), that the vacuum source (5) is switched on as soon as a severing cut(26) of a predetermined section (25) of a marking strip (2) enters therange of action of the vacuum source (5), whereby that layer of themarking strip that is interrupted by the severing cut is lifted from therespective other layer of this particular marking strip (2) so that asecurity/identification element (3) is dispensed onto the overlayer (22)or the substrate (23), and that the running direction of the markingstrip (2) is reversed as soon as the leading section of thesecurity/identification element (3) adheres to the overlayer (22) or thesubstrate (23), whereby the overlayer (22) and the substrate (23) of amarking strip (2) are brought together again and thesecurity/identification element (2) is inserted between the two layers(22, 23).
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in thatthe instants of time when the running direction of the marking strips(2) is reversed and the vacuum source (5) is switched on and off arefixed by way of a control device (13) and servo motors.
 13. The methodas claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the position of themarking strips (2) and/or the position of the security/identificationelements (3) is determined by means of sensors.
 14. The method asclaimed in claim 12, characterized in that the security/identificationelements (3) are affixed to a supporting web (29) by means of anadhesive whose adhesion relative to the security/identification elements(3) is greater than relative to the supporting web (29), that thesecurity/identification elements (3) are lifted off the supporting web(29) at the dispensing edge (10) of the dispensing device (8), and thatthe security/identification elements (3) are applied with theirnon-adhesive-coated side to the overlayer (22) coated with adhesive. 15.A marking strip manufactured in accordance with the method described inclaims 11, 12, 13 or 14 for the security/identification of baggageitems, wherein the marking strip (2) is comprised of an overlayer (22)and a substrate (23) which are joined together at least in sub-sectionsby way of an adhesive layer, and wherein the adhesive layer adheres tothe overlayer (22) when the substrate (23) is delaminated, and wherein asecurity/identification element (3) is placed in a predetermined section(25) between the overlayer (22) and the substrate (23).